Grate



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1`. P. F. GIBBONS.'

GRATE.

Patented Deo. 30, 1890.

Mnlld. JO v (No Model.) 2 sheetsshet 2;

. P. I'. GIBBONS.

GRATE.

Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

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UNITE@ STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PIERCE F. GIBBONS, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

GRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,759, dated December 30, 1890. Application ned February 3, 1890. serai No. 339,088. (No modal To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, PIERCE F. GIBBoNs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grates, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in grates especially designed for use in connection with steam-boilers, and more particularly to that class known as f tubular grates, in which the grate-bars are formed of tubes or pipes connected with the boiler in such manner that when heated by the lire of the furnace they produce a circulation of the water from the boiler through the grate-bars.

In all prior forms of tubular grates, so far as I am aware, the grate has been located wholly within the walls f the furnacea most objectionable construction, because no repairs can be made to any one of the tubes in the grate without first putting the lire out, nor

can the tubes be cleaned of the sediment which must necessarily accumulate therein as a result of the precipitations produced by the intense heating of the grate-bars without permitting the fire to go ont and then disconnecting every tube of the grate-a proceeding obviously slow and expensive, besides materially interfering with the work of the boiler, rendering it absolutely useless for the time being.

The prime object of this invention is to have the grate-bars readily removable or detachable from the grate and from the outside of the furnace, whereby a disabled bar may be readily removed and a newone substituted in its place without disturbing any of the other grate-bars and without the n ecessity for putting out the fire.

Another obj ect is to utilize the tubular grate as a feed-water heater for heating the water before its delivery io the boiler, and also for separating and accumulating the sediment, lime, and other scale-termin g substances from the water during its passage through the grate.

A further object is to enable the cleaning of the grate-bars and the removal of the sediment collected therein without disconnection ot any of the bars and during the continuous working of the furnace, and, lnally, to provide certain details in the carrying out of my invention, all as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section through a boiler-setting, showing'a grate applied thereto embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a transverse vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a plan view of the grate detached from the furnace; Fig. 4, a plan view of the adjustable grate-support; Fig. 5, a horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, showing devices applied to the grate-bars for cleaning the same; Fig. G, a longitudinal section through one of the grate-bars on the line 6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7, an end view of one of the couplings for t-he grate-bars, showing one of the bars in position in section; Fig. 8, an enlarged transverse section through one of the grate-bars, taken on the line S S of Fig. 6; and Fig. 9 an end elevation of a pair of grat-ebars, showing the mechanism for simultaneously operating the cleaning devices for the bars.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings. y

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings,A indicates the boiler, B the boilersetting, and O the grate, composed of tubes or pipes D, connected at their ends by means of couplings E, of any desirable form, each tube being connected with the adjacent tubes on each side by these couplings at its ends, so that all the tubes which constitute the grate-bar will be connected into a continuous pipe, the couplings being hollow to form an uninterrupted passage of substantially the same dimensions as and connecting the pair of tubes screwed or otherwise connected therewith. The grate is arranged so as to preferably stand at a slight angle or incline with the `front ends of the tubes and their coupling projecting through the front wall of the furnace in convenient position for the application of a pipe-wrench to each of thel gratebars or tubes, while the inner end of the grate is additionally supported upon a frame F, provided with sockets or recesses for reception of the grate-bars and pivoted to the side walls of the furnace, so that it may be swung forward and lie against the front wall of the furnace, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, whenever it is desired to rake the fire, al-

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though this support might be fixed or any other form of support employed instead thereof.

lith one of the end tubes of the grate connected a pipe G, leading to the inspirator for the water-supply, provided with a valve ll for cutting oi't' the supply and with a branch pipe I between the valve Il and the tube leading tothe boiler at a point near the bottom thereof, which pipe is also provided with a valve l for cutting olf the connection with the boiler. Connectingl with the pipe G, between thc valve 1l and the pipe I, is still another pipe K, leading from the steamdome of the boiler (not shown) for introducing steam into the pipe G, and from thence through the grate-bars for blowing out the sediment collected therein, as hereinafter more fully described, this pipe being' also provided with a valve L for cuttiugolf the steam. lVith the other end tube or grate-bar is connected a blow-ott or discharge pipe M, having a valve N' for closing the same and a pipe O connected therewith between the valve N an d the grate-bar,lcading to the boiler at a point below the water-line, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, and provided with a valve P t'or cutting oli' the supply to the boiler. Thus whenever it is desired to fill the boiler with water the valves J, L, and N will be closed and the inspirator-valve Il and the valve I opened, so that the supply of water will first flow through the grate-bars and be raised thereby to the proper temperature and then conducted into the boiler through the pipe O. lvhemhowever, the boiler has been properly filled, the valve ll will be closed and the valve .T will be open, after which when the water in the tubes or grate-bars becomes sutilcicntly heated it will pass up into the boiler through the pipe O, and the cooler water from the boiler will flow down to the grate through thepipe I, thus keeping up a constant and enforced circulation of the water from the boiler through the grate-bars, as illustrated by the arrows of the drawings. During its passage through the grate-bars, where thc water is subjected to the most intense heat, there will necessarily be considerable precipitation of sediment, lime, and sealeforming substances, which will gradually collect in the tubes or bars of the grate instead of being precipitated orcarricd into the boiler, as would be the case if the water were fed directly into the boiler, to prevent which it has heretofore been common to employ feed-water heaters and filters; but with my invention the employment of such heaters is rendered unnecessary, because my tubular grate, with its facilities for gathering and discharging the sediment and precipitations, performs all the functions of a feed-water heater and filter. To prevent these accumulations from adhering to and choking up the tubes of the grate and for the further purpose of loosening or dislodging any scale forming substances which may adhere to the tubes, l provide each tube of the grate, the end (though not shown) as well as the inner tubcs,with a thin curved er partially-tubular scraper Q, semicircular or a little more than scmicircular in crossscction and of substantially the diameter of the interior ol the tubes, the edges thereof terminating in sharp knife-like edges to more effectually scrape the sediment and scaleforming substances from the walls of the tubes. These Scrapers are substantially the same length as the tubes and are secured to or terminate in a short shank R, working through a suitable stalling-box S, screwed or otherwise secured to the coupling E, in which the tubes arc screwed. The ends of these shanks projecting beyond the stuhng-boxes may be squared and the Scrapers rotated in Athe tube by means ot' a crank or key indc pendently of each other; but4 it is preferred that all of the scrapers should be operated in unison and at a single manipulation by thc operator, to which end each of the shanks is provided with a worm -whecl T, meshing with a cross worin-shaft U, journalcd in suitable brackets secured to and projecting from thc front wall et' the furnace, to one end of which shaft is secured a crankhandle V for manually operating, although, if desired, power might readily be applied thereto. l-ly giving the crank handle an occasional turn thc scraper-s may be caused at intervals to scrape or loosen all the sediment in thetubes, which will tend to gravitate toward the inner and lower end of the tube.

Vhen the tubes require clcaningtl1at is to say, whenever it is desirable to discharge this loosened sediment from the tubes-the valves J P are first closed and the valves II and N opened, so that the. stream of water from the inspirator will flow through the grate and carry the major portion of the sediment off through the blow-off pipe M, after which the valve H will be closed and the valve L in the steam-pipe leading from the steamdome will be opened and a blast ot' steam pass through the grate-bars, which will effectual] y drive outall of the sediment collected therein, and, if desirable, a small quantity of water may be mixed with the steam. Upon closing the valves Il, L, and N and opening the valves J and P the circulation of the water from the boiler through the grate-bars will be reestablished, all of which maybe done-that is, the cutting O, cleaning the grate, and restoring the circulationnwithout the slightest interference with the tire in the furnace or with the work of the boiler.

It will be observed that the Scrapers are of such length as to not materially interfere with the passage of the water through the coup lings, while the tubes arc of sufficient diameter to have the proper capacity when occu pied by the scrapers, which latter when at rest will obviously stand in almost any position desired, although it is preferable that they should occupy the upper portion of the tube most of the time, in order that the precipitzv [OOV IIO

tions and sediment may not lodge thereon, and which can readily be'accomplished by a proper relation between the crank-handle, worm-shaft, and wheel.

Another advantage of this grat-e is that any one or more of the grate-bars may be removed and from the outside of the furnace inde pendent of all the other grate-bars and without the necessity for putting out the re in the furnace, for by proper manipulation of the valves the water may be blown entirely out of the tubes of the grate, when one of them may be removed and a new one substituted in its place without a material interruption to the work of the boiler or reduction of the steam therein.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In a grate, the combination, with the tubular grate-bars, of an internal longitudinal scraper locked in each of said bars, said scraper being curved in cross-section to conform to the curvature of the tube and terminating along its sides in knife-like edges, substantially as described.

2. In a grate, the combination, with tubular grate-bars projecting beyond the front wall of the furnace and hollow couplings connecting each bar at its ends, respectively, with the adjacent grate-bars, of a rotary longitudin al scraper located in each of said bars and a shank therefor projecting and working through the couplings at the front end of said bars, furnishing a means for rotating said Scrapers, substantially as described.

In a grate, the combination, with tubular grate-bars projecting beyond the front wall of the furnace and hollow couplings connecting each bar at its ends, respectively, with the adjacent grate-bars, of a rotary longitudinal scraper located in each of said bars, a shank therefor projecting and working through the couplings at the front end of said bars, a worm-wheel secured to each of said Shanks, and a cross worm-shaft meshing with all of said wheels for impartinga simultaneous rotation thereto, substantially7 as described.

t. In a grate, the combination, with tubular grate-bars projecting beyond the front wall of the furnace, of hollow couplings conneeting each inner bar at its ends, respectively, with the adjacent grate-bars, a valved supply-pipe connected with one end gratebar, a valved p ipe connecting said rst pipe with the boiler, a valved pipe connected with theother end grate-bar, and a valved pipe also connecting said pipe with the boiler, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a grate, the combination, with tubular grate-bars projecting beyond the front wall of the furnace and hollow couplings connecting each inner bar at its ends, respectively, with the adjacent grate bars, of a valved supply-pipe connected with one end grate;bar,a valved pipe connecting said first pipe with the boiler, and a valved pipe also connecting said first pipe, between its valve and the grate-bar, with the steam-dome, a valved pipe connected with the other end grate-bar, and a valved pipe also connecting said pipe with the boiler, substantially as described.

6. In a grate, the combination, with tubular grate-bars projecting beyond the front wall of the furnace, hollow couplings connecting each inner bar at its ends, respectively, with the adjacent grate-bars, a rotary longitudinal scraper located in each of said bars, and a shank thereforprojecting and working through the couplings at the front end of said bars, furnishing a means for rotating said Scrapers, of a valved supply-pipe connected with one end grate-bar, a valved pipe connecting said first pipe with the boiler, and a valved pipe also connecting said first pipe, between its valve and the grate-bar, with the steam-dome, a valved pipe connected with the other end grate-bar, and a valved pipe also connecting said pipe with the boiler, substantially as described.

PIERCE r. cInnoNs.

Witnesses:

R. C.'OMoHUNDRo, WM. M. RHEEM. 

